Official EU announcements, press releases, or legal documents

EU Intensifies Antitrust Actions Against Microsoft, Apple, and Meta with Potential $13.49 Billion Fine

Jul 1, 2024, 06:08 AM

The European Union has intensified its scrutiny of major US tech companies, launching formal antitrust actions against Microsoft, Apple, and Meta. EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager has warned that the investigations into Microsoft and OpenAI are ongoing. Apple faces a new non-compliance investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and has been charged with violating EU competition law. Meta is also under investigation for its 'pay or consent' model, which forces users to choose between data privacy and payment, potentially facing fines up to $13.49 billion. The EU's actions reflect a broader effort to enforce stricter digital regulations and ensure fair competition within the bloc. Microsoft ($MSFT) was charged with an antitrust violation, and there are concerns that Apple may be penalized for including ChatGPT but not Claude or Gemini.